b'MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGETherefore, the curriculum must includewith valuable information regarding workforce needs. skills that are relevant and applicable toAdvisory councils or comprised of industry partners who not only employ the colleges graduates, but employment, and the andragogy shouldalso provide valuable feedback on the performance incorporate active learning strategies.of the students they employ and future changes in the industry that may affect all or part of a program. The Institutional Commitment #2 feedback allows Career instructors, as well as college Student Success leadership, to make informed decisions during the The second commitment, Student Success, embracesplanning process. student support programs.This initiative providesThe QEP leverages community employment support services for students and alumnipartnerships in three ways: and supports student success and retention through counseling, advisement, [and] study skills.Student1.Community partners helped choose the success begins before a student enters the classroom, topic. and it extends beyond college completion.Student-opinion surveys and assessments of student learning outcomes reflect student success throughout a students2. Community partners give feedback community college career; however, data that supporton students essential skills needs student success after completing a degree or certificate(Employer Satisfaction Survey)at MGCCC are equally important.For example, comprehensive data exist to show the success rate of3. Business and industry partners providestudents who transfer to a university upon completionreal-world examples for classroomof their two-year degree.Other data show studentinstruction through Advisory Councilssuccess in the workplace once a student has earnedto enhance essential skills training.a certificate, diploma, or degree.The Employer Satisfaction Survey indicates whether essential skills in the workplace are demonstrated.The findings ofInstitutional Commitment #4the data and the surveys, as well as feedback fromCulture of InnovationCareer advisory councils, will be discussed under theThe final commitment, Culture of Innovation, promotes Development section of the QEP. an entrepreneurial atmosphere that encourages risk-Institutional Commitment #3taking, innovation, and collaboration.This commitment Community Engagement and Partnerships foster[s]acollegialenvironmentreflectingan The third commitment, Community Engagement andentrepreneurial foundation in instruction, student Partnerships, involves embracing and expanding local,services and administration supported by faculty/staff regional, and national partnerships.In addition toand student development with incentives to foster innovation (Strategic Plan 2020, 2011).For example, the partnerships between MGCCC and the state orstudents proposed the topic chosen as MGCCCs QEP. regional universities, the institution strives to forgeAdditionally, MGCCC students are becoming leaders on partnerships with area businesses and industries ina national level, winning national competitions based on order to create effective and sustainable pathwaysacademic and skill attainment, and receiving prestigious for students to complete educational goals to reachscholarships for their academic and leadership abilities career and life outcomes.Additionally, the college(Appendix B).This includes atypical academic pursuits is committed to assess[ing] workforce developmentfor community colleges.For example, through the needsandalign[ing]trainingandcareer/techMississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research programs to targeted industries (Strategic Plan 2020,(INBRE) grant, students conduct significant research and 2011).The creation of an advisory council for eachcontribute to the biomedical field on a national scale.Career and Technical (CTE) program and on-goingThe entrepreneurial environment of the college not meetings with council members provide the collegeonly allows students to pursue excellence in innovative MGCCC QEP 2019 9'